Water-saving device



Oct. 25, 1955 5 E. J. PARKER 2,721,574

WATER-SAVING DEVICE Filed July 2l, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l ELE- l 20 IN VEN TOR.

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Oct. 25, 1955 Filed July 2l 1951 E. J. PARKER WATER-SAVING DEVICEINVENTOR.

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0d` 25, 1955 E. J. PARKER 2,721,574

INVENTOR. zMf/e' z Abk/ff@ mjfw Oct. 25, 1955 E. J. PARKER 2,721,574

WATER-SAVING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 21, 1951 1 l f I6 79 94aa /0/ INVENTOR.

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United States Patent O WATER-SAVING DEVICE Elmer J. Parker, Saginaw,Mich., assignor of one-half to William T. Sevald, Royal Oak, Mich.

Application `luly 21, 1951, Serial No. 237,938

12 Claims. (Cl. 137-122) This invention generally relates to a watersaverfor household or domestic washing machines and-in particular to anew, novel, and inventive water-switch for interrupting the automaticdischarge of used water from such a machine to effect automatic,selective storage of the hot, soapy, wash-cycle water.

The conventional washing machine used universally prior to the automaticwasher and still presently widely employed comprises a tub forcontaining the hot, soapy wash-water, an agitator in the tub foreffecting washing the clothes, and a wringer for squeezing the water outof the clothes. Sometimes a rotatable horizontal drum supplants theagitator andfsometimes a centrifugal extractor supplants the wringer.

The usual practice in washing and rinsing clothes with the conventionalmachine basically includes filling the tub with hot water, adding soap,putting the white' clothes in and allowing the machine to agitate theclothes in the water for a period, during which time the user fills thetwo adjacent laundry trays with rinse water and sorts out the rest ofthe clothes to be washed.

The used then wrings the washed clothes into the rinse water in one ofthe trays, fills the washer tub with the second load of clothes, and,while the machine is agitating, wrings the clothes from the first rinsetray to the second rinse tray; wrings the second rinse tray to the washbasket, and hangs the clothes up on the line to dry. By this time thesecond load of clothes is washed and the user then wrings the secondload into the initial rinse tray, and then puts the third load ofclothes into the machine and repeats the operations of rinsing,wringing, and hanging while the second load is being washed. The userthen repeats the operations with the the third, fourth, fth and sixth ormore loads of clothes using the same wash water in the machine tub andthe same rinse water in the laundry trays.

The conventional machine rates in dry kweight clothes washing capacityusually from 4 to 8 lbs. and uses between l5 and 30 gals. of hot water;each laundry tray uses a like amount of warm or cold water s'o that theuser effectively washes four to six loads of clothes from 4 to 8 lbs.dry weight in 45 to 90 gals. of water. The approximate minimum is 4loads of 4 lbs. or 16 lbs. in 45 gals. of water; the approximate maximumis 6 loads of 8 lbs. or 48 lbs. in 90 gals. of water. Thus we see` thatthe user can wash clothes with the conventional machine, used to normaladvantage, at the rate of a pound of clothes to two or three gals. ofwater. Obviously the machine can be so used to destroy the aboverelationships; however, the above relationships are based on methodsusually employed and is mentioned here only by way of illustrating waterconsumption with such a machine in contra-distinction to water use withautomatic machines hereinafter stated.

The automatic washing machine is rated in dry weight clothes capacityfrom 4 to 9 lbs., but, with one known optional exception, the wash waterand rinseuwaters are dumped down the drain after each use. In otherwords,

' or disposal.

2,721,574 Patented Oct. 25d, 1955 ice the clothes are washed and thewash water dumped; the clothes are rinsed and the rinse water dumped,and the clothes are rinsed again and the second rinse water dumped. lfthe automatic machine is a 4 lb. capacity with a l5 gal. tub, themachine will` use 45 gals. of water for four pounds of clothes or use llgals. of water for each pound of clothes. If the machine is an 8 lb.capacity with a 20 gal. tub then the machine will use 60 gals. of water,or use 71/2 gals. of water for each pound of clothes. Recently 3 or 4gal. spray rinse has been substituted for one deep water rinses therebysaving ll to l7 gals. of water so that the machine would use only 32 or43 gals. of water thereby bettering the clotheswater ratio toapproximately 8 gals. to 51/2 gals'. of water per pound of clothes whichis still two or three times the ratio in conventional machines.

The automatic machine hot, soapy, wash-cycle water is usually full-hotwater with no cold water added whereas the rinse cycle waters aremetered hot and cold water in an effort to save on the amount of hotwater used. It is pertinent to note, therefore, that if the hot-soapywash-cycle water is saved, then the major portion of hot water used byan automatic washer is saved thereby eliminating supplying a whole tubof full-hotv water for the subsequent wash-cycles.

While users may be willing to use the additional hot water to obtain theconvenience, usually the hot water production capacity of the home istaxed beyond its limit thereby not only failing to produce enough hotwater for the automatic washer but also failing to produce hot water forany other purpose such as baths, showers, dishes, etc., especially ifthe automatic washer is used repeatedly to do load after load washes ona wash day.

Manufacturers suggest that soiled clothes be washed immediately as soonas a load is accumulated to obviate this difficulty. This is a goodsuggestion, but many users do not have the opportunity to follow theadvice, or nd it inadvisable from other standpoints such as wash-timeallotted in multiple dwellings, ironing, drying space, weather, andopportunity, etc. In other words, such advice does not t in with theusers way of doing the washing in the users circumstances.

The known device for saving the hot soapy water from the wash-cycle ofthe machine is integrated in the automatic cycle and in the fabricationof the machine thereby prohibiting its use on any automatic machineafter the machine has been manufactured. The known device is alsoapparently covered by active, unlicensed patents.

With the foregoing and other well known facts in view, it is the primarypurpose of the instant invention to provide an inexpensive, hot, soapy,wash-cycle, watersaver for use in conjunction with any manufacturedautomatic washing machine which does not infringe the patents on theknown device and which does not necessitate mechanically integrating thedevice orV its action with the automatic cycle of the machine.

An object of the invention is to provide a water-switch mountable on anadjacent tub or container which will store the wash-water in the tub toa predetermined level and then switch the subsequently discharged rinsewaters to the drain for disposal.

An object of the invention is to provide simple inexpensive means forswitching the discharge flow of water from the storage tank to thedrain.

An object of the invention is to provide a water-switch easily mountableon the usual laundry tray.

An object of the invention is to provide a water-switch easily mountableon the usual dual laundry trays capable of storing the hot-soapy waterin one tray and capable of switching the rinse Waters to the other trayIfor storage An object of the invention is to provide a tube switchablefrom a position of discharge into a storage tank to a position ofdischarge to the drain.

An object of the invention is to provide a tube associated with .a.drain .in .the .Storage tank 4capable `ot receiving the discharge fromvthe switchable tube.

An object of the invention is yto provide a combined storage waterlevel, accidental overflow, and subsequently used .water discharge tube.

An object of the invention is to provide a water-saver adapted toautomatically vcoact with the automatic cycle of an automatic washerwithout alteration or integration.

A n object o f the invention is to provide ,2.1 .Single compartmentwater tank with a discharge tube and a switch tube so coordinated thatthe hot-wash water is stored in the tank and other waters 'by-passedthrough the tank.

YThese and other objects of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of the selected embodiments of the inventivedevice as Aassociated with an automatic home washer taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. v1 is an end elevational .view of the inventive device mounted inconjunction with a gravity tank shown partly in cross-section inconjunction with a diagrammatic view of an automatic washer.

Fig. -2 is a face elevational view of the device and tank of Fig. 1 withthe tank partly broken away with tank filling with water.

Fig. `3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the tank full of hot-washwater with the subsequent rinse water being discharged down the drain.

Fig, 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 in conjunction with a diagrammaticpartial showing of an automatic washer illustrating the gravityfeed-back of the stored hot water to the washer tub.

Fig. v5 is an enlarged face elevational view of the switch in theposition seen in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 5 taken on the line 6 6thereof.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged face elevational view of the switch in theposition ofFig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 7 taken on the line 7-7thereof.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 5 taken on the line 9-9thereof.

Fig. v10 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 7 taken on the line 10-10thereof.

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of the switch mounted on a laundrytray via adjustable supports, tubes, and mechanism.

Fig. 12 is an end-elevational view of the device of Fig. 11 taken on theline 12-12 thereof.

Fig. v13 is a perspective view of adjustable stop setting on the sliderod.

Fig. 14 is a side elevational view of a device embodying the inventionmounted on a double laundry tray with the tray shown in cross-section.

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 14 taken on the line 15-15thereof.

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 14 taken on the line 16-16thereof.

Fig. 17 is a partial plan view of an inventive device employing twinhorizontal slides.

Fig. 18 is a side elevational view of a device embodying the inventionmounted on a double laundry tray with the tray shown in cross-section;and

Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the slide member of Fig. 18 showingthe end of the washer discharge hose being used as the switch tube.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like andcorresponding parts throughout the several views, the selectedembodiments of the invention shown therein comprise a rod or guideslide, a slide member slidably disposed on the slide rod, a tube adaptedto move with said member from a first position discharging into astorage tank to a second position discharging to a drain, a spring toeffect sliding from the first to the second position, and lock forlocking the tube in the rst position against the spring, and a waterlevel ball float mechanism adapted to release the lock when the waterlevel of the storage tank reaches the desired predetermined leveltherein to allow the spring to move the tube from the first storagedischarge position to the second drain discharge position.

More particularly, the automatic washing machine 20, hereinafterreferred to as the washer 20, is equipped with a tub 21 for containingthe washing and rinsing water, a motor 22 for driving the agitator, notshown, to effect movement of the clothes through the water and the waterthrough the clothes to accomplish washing and rinsing, a basket, notshown, also driven by the motor 22 for effecting centrifugal extractionof theiwater from the clothes to accomplish damp drying, a pump 23 alsodriven by the motor for pumping the water in the tub to disposal, a hose24 connecting the tub 21 to Vthe pump 23, a hose 25 leading from thepump 23 to disposal. Such a machine is disclosed in United StatesReissue Patent 21,020 to Wales and United States Patent 1,897,414 toBaldner. A timing or synchronizing device automatically controls theoperation of the machine so that it selectively opens and closes valvesto admit, maintain, and discharge water to and from the tub; shiftsmotor drive from agitator to basket and vice-versa to elect washing,rinsing and drying; and coordinates the entire operation of the machine.The washer l20 herein only schematically shows such a machine with theparts designated which are necessary to the proper understanding of theinstant invention. Such machines are well known today and are marketedunder well known trademarks and are too well known and too numerous tomention.

It is sucient if it is understood that each automatic washer is equippedwith a tub, a motor, and a pump capable to deliver water above the levelof the machine; namely to an elevated sink, laundry tray, tank, or drainso that as the water is discharged from the tub via the pump it ilowsinto the sink or tray and down the drain. It is to be noted that if thedrain in the sink or tray is plugged, all the water will be mixed andsaved in conjunction with the automatic discharge from the washer.

In one embodiment of the instant invention, the gravity tank 3,0 ispositioned adjacent the washer 20 so that the hose 3 1 outlet 32 isabove the top 26 of the washer 3) so that water in the tank 30 can begravity fed back into the washer20.

The tank 30, Figs. 1 to 8, is equipped with a discharge tube 33 leadingthrough the bottom of the tank 30, the tube 33 being coupled to a hose34 on the discharge tube 33 leading to a laundry tray or to a drain.Semi-surrounding the top of the tube 33 and mounted thereon so as toextend above the upper end of the tube 33 and so as to extend sidewiseof the tube 33 as a closed, sidewalled loop open at the top and bottomis an oblong collar 3 5. A slide rod 36 is mounted between the sidewalls of the tank 30 and a slide member 37 is adapted to slide on therod 36. Mounted on the slide member 37 for movement therewith is aswitch tube 3S depending at its lower end within the loop of the collar35 just above the top of the discharge tube 33 so that when the switchtube 38 is aligned with the discharge tube 33 it transmits thereto andwhen the switch tube 38 is not aligned with the discharge tube 33 ittransmits to the tank 30. A spring 39 biases the slide member 37 andswitch tube 38 into alignment with the discharge tube 33 and slidemember 37 is stopped by the collar 35 when the tubes are in alignment.On the rod 36 is a dog 40 and also on the rod is a sleeve 41 rotatablymounted on the rod 36 having an interruption therein for receiving thedog 40 therein when indexed therewith, the sleeve 41 and dog 40constituting a lock. A torque arm 42 is fixed on the sleeve 41 forrotationally moving same .and a oat-ball 43 on the arm 42 is adapted tomove the arm 42 to rotate the sleeve 41 to index the interruptiontherein with the dog 40 so that the sleeve 41 by-passes the' dog 40allowing the spring 39 to move the slide 37 to carry the switch tube 38into alignment with the discharge tube 33.

Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, and 9, show the position of the device prior to thetank being iille'd to the desired level with the first emitted hot,soapy, wash-cycle water from the washer 20. In this position the'arni 42and ball 43 are down and the sleeve 41 rotated so that its interruptionor channel 44, Fig. 9, is out of phase with the dog 40 on the rod 36 sothat the dog 40 bears againstfthe end of the sleeve 41 holding thesleeve 41, the abutted slide 37, and the carried switch tube 38 out ofalignment with the discharge tube 33 against the spring 39 so thatemission from the switch tube enters the tank 30. The stop 45 on thesleeve 41 sidewise abuts the dog 40 preventing the arm 42 and ball 43from approaching dead center. In this position the tank 30 receives theiirst hot, soapy, washcycle emission of water fromV the washer 20.

Figs. 3, 7, 8, and l0 show the position of the device after the tank 30has been iilled to the'd-esired level with the hot, soapy, wash-cyclewater from the washer 20. As the tank 30 fills, the ball 43 moves fromthe position seen in Fig. 2 to that seen in Fig. 3 lifting the arm 42 torotate the sleeve 41 to move the sleeve 41 from edge abuttingrelationship relative to the dog`40 to interruption 44 receivingrelationship relative to the dog 40 so that the sleeve 41 slides pastthe dog 40'When the water is at the desired level allowing the spring 39to pull the slide 37 along the rod 36 until the lower end of the switchtube 38 contacts the collar 35 semi-surrounding the discharge tube 33which steps the switch tube 38 in alignment with the discharge tube 33against the pull of the spring 39 so that water subsequently emittedfrom the washer 2? via the hose 25 is transmitted via the switch tube38, discharge tube 33 and hose 34 to a' drain. The hose 25 has arelatively smaller transmission capacity than the tubes 38 and 33 sothat no water escapes the tubes 38 and 33 at their juncture. Thedischarge tube 33 may be slightly larger than the switch tube 38 toinsure against water escapement, Fig. 7, but tubes of the same sizeherebefore employed have not permitted water to escape at the juncturedue to the syphoning effect of the relatively larger capacity tubes 33and 38 and hose 34, which action also relieves the head on the pump 23.The armn42 is capable of being bent to'coordinate operation of thedevice at the desired water level as in a conventional toilet oatshut-off valve. The collar also acts asia slide guide for the switchtube 38 to keep the slide 37 from pivoting on the rod 36. j

The user or operator desiring to save the hot-soap water, puts theclothes and soap in the washer 20 and initiates the automatic cycle. Theuser then moves the slide 37, sleeve 41 and associated parts to the leftas seen in the drawings against the pull of the spring 39 until the dogis outside the sleeve 41, the user then lets the arm 42 drop rotatingthe channel or interruption 44 away from the dog 4t) putting the bodyofthe sleeve 41 in abutting relation to the dog 4t) thereby positioningthe switch tube to emit into the tank 30 and preventing the spring 39from pulling the tubes 33 and 38 into alignment. At this point thedevice is set to save the desired water from the washer Upon the washer20 completing its washtcycle, it automatically emits the hot-soapy washwater and same is transmitted via the pump 23, hose 25, and switch tube38 into the tank 30. Uponthis water rising to the desired predeterminedlevel in the tank 30, the ball 43 lifts the arm 42 rotating the sleeve41 so as to index the dog 40 with the sleeve 41 interruption to by-passthe dog 40, and, the spring 39 then pulls the switch tube 38 intoalignment with the discharge tube 33 and all subsequently dischargedwaters from the washer 20 are transmitted to a drain via the dischargetube 33 and hose 34. The

6 tank 30 is preferably insulated to keep the stored water hot.

After the washer 20 has completed its cycle to wash the rst load ofclothes, the user moves the hose return 31 from the positioning of Fig.1 to that of Fig. 4 and the stored water is returned by gravity to thetub 21 of the washer 20. The user then puts the second load of clothesin the washer 2t) and initiates its automatic cycle which automaticallydoes not introduce any new hot water to the tub 21 or only a desiredpredetermined amount of hot water to the tub 21, as tub 21 is equippedwith waterlevel sensitive devices, such as iioat operated switches,which automatically cut oi the water supply valves of the washer 20 whenthe proper water level is established in the tub 21. In the event thewasher 20 is not equipped with a tub water-level sensitive controldevice, the user merely sets the automatic timer at a point advancedpast the fill-portion of the cycle which is marked on the timer controlknob to obviate more hot water than desired being put in the tub 21. Theinventive water saving device is then reset as hereinbefore described tosave the same hot, soapy, wash-cycle Water after the second load ofclothes is Washed. The third, fourth, and additional loads are washedand the water saved until the last load is being washed. When the lastload is being washed the user does not reset the inventive device to theposition of Fig. 1 but leaves it in the position of Fig. 3 and the spenthot, soap water is transmitted to the drain.

The embodiment of the inventive device seen in Figs. 11 to 13, isessentially that of the device seen in Figs. 1 to 10 except that thedevice is used in conjunction with a laundry tray 5t) and is adjustableto iit any size laundry tray with the telescoping discharge tube 51being adjustable as to height via its interfitting sections 52 and 53 assecured by the set screw 49, and adjustably supported as to side-walldistance by the tray bracket 54 clamped on the tray side-wall via thetelescoping support arm 55 as secured by the set screw 56, with thetelescoping slide rod 57 adjustably supported by the brackets 58 and 59.The slide rod 57 carries the slide 37 and sleeve 41 with the slide 37carrying the switch tube 38 biased by the spring 39. The torque arm 42and ball tioat 43 operate as hereinbefore described in conjunction withthe previously described embodiment, Figs. 1 to 10. The rod 57 isequipped with spaced tapped holes 62 for selectively positioning the dog61 so that the switch tube can be properly spaced for emission to thetub 50 and proper alignment of the switch tube 38 with the dischargetube 52 is insured by the collar 35 as hereinbefore described. Theaction of the device is also as previously described except that thesaved water is transmitted back to the washer by a pump on the washervia the hose U as the tray S0 is not high enough to do same via gravity.Obviously the Washer return pump can be deleted and the water manuallyreturned with a dipper.

Referring now to the embodiments seen in Figs. 14 to 1 8, the devicedisclosed therein does not employ a specific discharge tube but ratherworks in conjunction with a double laundry tray or a single tankalongside a drain and the switch tube is switched from a plugged tray ortank for saving the desired water to an unplugged tray or drain fordisposing of unwanted water to effect automatically saving the hot-soapywater of the wash-cycle of an automatic washer.

Specifically, the tray is composed of a section 71 and a section 72 withthe inventive device suspended over the tub 70 via brackets 73 and '74clamped to the outside sidewalls of the tub 7l with the slide rod 75supported between the brackets and having a channel 76 therein adaptedto receive the key 77 on the slide 78 in sliding relationship to preventrelative rotational movement between the slide '78 and the rod 75. Asuitable spring 79 is connected to the bracket 73 and to the slide 78for pulling the slide 73 from a position over the plugged tray 72 to aposition over the unplugged tray 71. The slide 78 carries the switchtube 80 which receivably retains the end of the automatic washerdischarge hose for movement therewith and a suitable stop 81 is locatedon the rod to stop the slide 78 over the tray 71. A bell-crank automaticcatch 82 is pivotally mounted on the device, such as on rod 75 and is,equipped with a cam and hook or latch portion 84 adapted to ride overthe lug .85 on the slide 78 when .the slide '78 is moved to the right asseen inthe drawings against the tension of the spring 79. A cam 86 isrotatably mounted on the device such as on rod "75 and adapted to co-actwith the bottom portion 87 of the bell-crank 82 to effect release of thecatch portion 84 on the lug 8S as hereinafter more fully described. Thelug and cam portion 84 constitute a lock. A suitable spring 8,8 clampedon the tub as at 89 is secured on the bell crank 82 to urge the catchportion 84 into engagement with the lug .85. A torque arm 90 isconnected to the cam 86 and a ball yfloat 91 is attached to the torquearm 90 and adapted to rotate the cam 86 to effect release of the bellcrank Catch under certain conditions hereinafter set forth.

When the slide '78 is against the stop 81, the bottom portion 87 of thebell crank S2 abuts the low side of the cam 86, Fig. 16, preventing thespring 88 from overdepressing the cam-catch portion 84; the bell crank82 is thereby positioned so that the cam portion 84 will ride over thelug 85 automatically when the slide 78 is manual-ly pushed to theposition seen in Fig. 14.

In operation the user plugs one tray of the double unit 70, such assection 72, with a plug 92 and sets the slide 78 in the position seen inFig. 14; the user then loads the automatic washer and initiates theautomatic washing machine timer and the -washer then goes through itscycle. At the point on the timer where the washer discharges its hot,soapy, wash-cycle Water the discharge is effected through the hose 25via the switch tube 80 into the plugged tray or section 72 whereupon thewater rises in section 72 elevating the float 91 lifting the arm 90rotating the cam 86 turning the high side 86H of the cam S6 into Contactwith the bottom portion 87 of the bell crank 82 causing the bell crankto rock thereby disengaging the bell crank catch portion 84 from the lug85 at the proper predetermined water level thereby allowing the spring79 to pull the slide 78 and attached switch tube 80 over the tray 71 sothat subsequent washer emission via the hose 25 is transmitted into theunplugged section or tray 71.

After the first load of clothes is inished the user then places a secondload of clothes in the automatic washer 20 and activates the auxiliaryreturn pump 93 to return water from the tray 72 to the tub 21 via thehose 60, the pump 93, and the hose 94 to the tub 21. Upon initiating thewasher 20 on its second load, the user manually pushes the slide 78 froma position abutting the stop 81 until it automatically passes thecam-catch portion of the bell crank 82 and falls behind the catchportion of the bell crank 22 thereby automatically locking the devicefor automatically saving the wash water from the second run of clothes.Obviously subsequent loads are handled the same as the described firstand second loads. Fig. 17 shows a modification of the device of Fig. 14wherein double horizontal slide rods 95 and 96 are employed inside-by-side relationship so that the slide 97 carries the switch tube80 at a point so as to discharge between the rods with the bell crank 82rockably mounted on the cross rod 98.

Referring now to the more compact embodiment of Fig. 18, a support frame100 is braced against walls of the double laundry tray 101 via brackets102 and 103 and clamped to the dividing wall by a bracket-clamp 104 withthe end portions 105 and 106 of the frame 100 supporting the doubleslide rods 107 and 108 in vertical parallel relationship. A slide 109 isslideably positioned on the rods 107 and 108 and tensioned or biased tothe left as seen in Fig. 18 by the spring 110 which surrounds the pulley111 mounted on the end 105 and leads back to and is anchored on the end106. The slide 109 is equipped with a lug 85 co-acting in conjunctionwith a bell crank 82 and a cam 86 is mounted on the rod 107 andactivated by .the torque arm 90 and ball float 91 to release the bellcrank catch portion 84 from the lug 85 when the water level in the'tray112 achieves a predetermined level which elevates the ball 91 and torquearm 90 as previously described in conjunction with the device seen inFig. 14. The operation of the device of Fig. 18 is similar to that .ofFig. 14 with the switch tube 80 mounted on the slide 109 and movingtherewith from a position over the plugged tray section 112 to aposition over the unplugged tray section 113 of the double laundry trays101 and the water is returned to the washer after each successive savingby a return pump on the washer or manually with a clipper as previouslyhereinbefore described.

Obviously the components of Figs. 14 and 18 are easily mountable inconjunction lwith a gravity tank 30; or the components of Figs. 1 to 1leasily used in conjunction with the double laundry trays shown in Figs.14 to 18. Also the end of the hose 25 can be anchored on the slide toconstitute the switch tube 38 and the actual tube 38 eliminated so thatthe hose 25 discharges directly into the discharge tubes 33 or 51, orthe laundry trays within the scope of the invention. It is important tonote that the discharge tubes 33 and 51 act as an automatic overflow forthe tank 30 or tray 50 in the event the water level should inadvertentlyrise above the upper end of the discharge tube such as when the switchmechanism inadvertently did not function.

Fig. 19 shows the switch tube deleted and loops 120 carried by the slide109 using the end of the washer discharge hose 25 as the switch tube.

It is important to note that the operation of the inventive device isnot affected or controlled by any portion of the automatic washer, andalso that the automatic washer is not affected or controlled by anyportion of the inventive device. Water emitting as usual from thedischarge hose of the automatic washer is merely stored in a receptacle,and, when a sufficient quantity has been stored in a receptacle, thewasher hose is Yswitched to another tank or drain and the automaticcycle of the machine runs on as usual.

Although but a few embodiments of the invention have been shown .anddescribed in detail, it is obvious that many changes may be made in thesize, shape, detail, and arrangements of the elements of the inventionand the substitution of mechanical equivalents such as reversal offunction between the spring and lock, or the use of cams to effectmovement of the switch tube within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An automatic, selective water-saver for use in conjunction with anautomatic washer comprising a storage tank, a slide guide mounted insaid tank, a discharge tube leading through said tank, a slide memberslideably mounted on said guide, a switch tube mounted on said memberfor movement therewith from a first position of emission into said tankto a second position of emission to said discharge tube, a springbiasing said member and switch tube into the second position, a lockadapted to secure said switch-tube and member in the first tank emissionposition, and a tank water level sensitive mechanism adapted to releasesaid lock at a predetermined level of water in said tank to allow saidspring to move said member from the first tank emission position to thesecond dischargetube emission position.

2. In a device as set forth in claim 1, a collar semi-surrounding theupper end of said discharge tube and extending sidewise outwardlytherefrom and endwise upwardly therefrom constituting a guide for saidswitch tube in the first and second positions and for movementtherebetween.

3. An independent, separate, non-valved water-switch for automaticallysaving the wash-cycle water emitting from an automatic washing machinewithout mechanically or electrically integrating the action of thedevice with the action of the automatic cycle of the washer comprising astorage receptacle, a discharge tube in said receptacle extending to apoint above the desired water level therein and leading through a wallthereof to a drain, a switch tube switchably disposed on said tankadapted to switch from a first position of emission into said tank to asecond position of emission into said discharge tube, and meanseffecting movement of said switch tube from the first position to thesecond position when the receptacle has filled to a predetermineddesired level.

4. In a device as set forth in claim 1, a lock comprising a split sleeveand a dog on said slide, and water level sensitive means comprising afloat ball and torque-arm adapt ed to rotate said sleeve split portioninto registry with said dog so as to be capable of by-passing said dogto release said lock.

5. Apparatus for automatically introducing to a tray the hot and soapywater emitted by a washing machine at the end of the washing cycle,including, a tube in the tray for draining the water passing through it,a discharge tube for withdrawing the water from the washing machine andfor discharging the water into the tray in one position and fordischarging the water into the drain tube in a second position, a rod, aspring constrained to produce a force on the discharge tube for movementof the discharge tube along the rod into alignment with the drain tube,means for restraining the movement of the discharge tube into alignmentwith the drain tube for water levels in the tray below a predeterminedheight so as to provide a discharge of the water into the tray, andmeans for releasing the restraining means for water levels in the traygreater than the predetermined value so as to produce a movement of thedischarge tube into alignment with the drain tube for passage of thewater through the drain tube.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, including, a oat member adapted toride on the water to indicate the level of the water, and a sleevemounted on the rod and pivotable in accordance with vertical movementsof the float member to release the restraining means after a rotationthrough an angle corresponding to the predetermined level of water.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, including, a sleeve positioned onthe rod to restrain the movement of the discharge tube into alignmentwith the drain tube, means for rotating the sleeve in accordance withvariations in the water level in the tray, and means for releasing thesleeve for axial movement on the rod after a predetermined rotation ofthe sleeve so as to produce a movement of the discharge tube intoalignment with the drain tube.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, including, a collar having ahollow interior to receive the lower end of the discharge tube and theupper end of the drain tube and to maintain the discharge tube in oneposition for the passage of the water into the tray and to maintain thedischarge tube in a second position for passage of the water into thedrain tube.

9. Apparatus for connection to an automatic washing machine and to astorage compartment and disposal means for automatically saving andstoring rst cycle hot soapy water and for by passing subsequent rinseWater comprising a rod spanning a storage compartment and a disposalmeans, a slide mounted on said rod, means on said slide for securingthereto a tube leading from a washing machine, lock means locking saidslide and tube in a first position on said rod over a storagecompartment, biasing means urging said slide and tube to a secondposition on said rod over a disposal means, and automatic unlockingmeans for unlocking said slide and tube relatively to said rod when thestorage compartment is filled to a certain level whereupon said slideand tube are automatically urged from said first position over thestorage compartment to said second position over the disposal means bysaid biasing means so that all subsequent water is emitted and disposedvia the disposal means.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said lock means includes adog on said rod, a collar having a channel therein rotatably disposed onsaid rod, said collar being disposed between said dog and said slide,said slide being locked in said iirst position when said collar isrotated so that said channel s out of alignment with said dog, and meansfor rotating said collar to align said channel and said dog.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said lock means isadjustably positioned on said rod.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said lock meansincludes a lug on said slide, a latch on said rod releasably engagingsaid lug, and means for releasing said latch whereupon said biasingmeans urges said slide to said second position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 612,165Judd Oct. 11, 1898 1,529,585 Gameson Mar. 10, 1925 2,024,374 LangebrakeDec. 17, 1935 2,182,415 Thigpen May 20, 1939 2,391,561 Geldhof Dec. 25,1945

